Computer Shopper (September 2006)

148 Pages·2006·16.129 MB·English

WE RATE THE BEST ACCESS E-MAIL 121 SHOPPING SITES
RETAIL TECH STORES FROM ANYWHERE
COMPUTERSHOPPER.COM
D
VISTA
WIN UNVEILED
$1,000 A BETTER
SEE PAGE 57 OS,BUT DO
YOU REALLY
NEED IT?
BIG
DEALS
AUTOMATE
HARD DRIVE
BACKUPS
IN 4 EASY
STEPS
Powerful
HOW TO
Desktops
BUYTHE
That Cost
RIGHT
LessThan
LCD TV
$500
THE
FASTEST
317 DESKTOP
WE’VE EVER
TESTED!
PRODUCTS |2006DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT. 11, 2006 09> 2069002 9 | CANADA $5.99
R 9 9
INSIDE! SEPTEMBE 7090 U.S. $4.
Talk about brilliant. USB is the most prolific and successful peripheral
lets PCs and certified USB products talk to each other. Instantly. Reliably.
darn thing in. That, and the wisdom to look for any of the certified USB
printers, joysticks and more. Now, you could just grab any old peripheral
that wouldn’t be your brightest move. Look for certified USB products at
connection in the history of computing. It’s the industry standard that
Effortlessly. And all that’s required of you is the dexterity to plug the
logos on the products you buy. Things like digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs,
off the shelf and hope for the best. But technically speaking,
your local retailer.
Information provided by the USB Implementers Forum
www.usb.org
How can you tell if a network is fully protected?
(Just look at the people protecting it.)
Today’s sophisticated security threats go way beyond what antivirus can handle. That’s why CDW has all the technology you
need for full client security protection. From encryption to content filtering to antispyware and beyond, we have a wide variety
of the top names in the industry. And we have the expertise to answer questions, offer advice and build solutions that will
hold up to the worst threats out there. So call today and get the total protection you need.
NETGEAR FVG318 ProSafe™ Wireless VPN Firewall
with 8-port Switch
132
$ 99
• Delivers high-performance wireless and wired security to small networks
• Integrates secure 802.11b/g wireless, SPI firewall and IPSec VPN
technologies in an easy-to-use solution CDW 853247
• VPN feature allows end-to-end users to securely connect multiple
computers to local office resources over the Internet via IPSec tunneling
NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Firewall
with USB Print Server and 4-port 10/100BASE-TX Switch
129
$ 99
• Combines an SPI firewall, router, 4-port 10/100 switch, USB print server
and a 54Mbps wireless access point
CDW 541609 • Advanced security features include IPSec, PPTP, L2TP pass-through
support, 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption for wireless transmissions, a
DB-9 connector to add an ISDN or analog modem for
auto-failover functionality
Offer subject to CDW’s standard terms and conditions of sale, available at CDW.com. © 2006 CDW Corporation
Linksys® WRT-300N Wireless-N Broadband Router
135
$ 99
• Internet-sharing router and 4-port switch, with a built-in
range-enhanced wireless access point
• Protects wireless signals with advanced wireless security with up CDW 967966
to 256-bit encryption and your network from Internet attacks
with a powerful SPI firewall
• Uses MIMO technology for a robust signal that reduces
dead spots
• Compatible with all legacy 802.11b and 802.11g
wireless products
Linksys® WRV54G Wireless-G
VPN Broadband Router
139
$
• Jump start your network by connecting both Wireless-G (802.11g)
PCs and local wired PCs
CDW 521662 • An Internet connection-sharing router, switch and wireless access
point with built-in VPN endpoint capability and advanced
security features including 128-bit WEP encryption and
SPI firewall
• Securely connect up to 50 remote or traveling users to your
office network via VPN
D-Link® DWL-3200AP Managed Access Point
222
$ 99
• Ideal solution for creating a wireless network while in
access point mode or for bridging together networks via
point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge mode CDW 735648
• Delivers performance with standard 802.11g wireless
throughput rate of up to 54Mbps
• Provides the latest wireless security technologies by
supporting both WPA-Enterprise and 802.1x to ensure
complete network protection
D-Link® DFL-700 Desktop VPN Firewall
with up to 200 VPN Tunnels
369
$ 99
• Provides integrate NAT, SPI firewall, advanced content filtering
features, IDS protection, bandwidth management, as well as
CDW 647580 VPN support
• Security features, including remote management, bandwidth
control, URL blocking and SNMP help to manage, monitor and
maintain a healthy and secure network
The Security Solutions You Need When You Need Them.
AMD Performance PCs
The World’s Best Gaming Processor!
Built to get the most from online gaming and
brings the next generation of 64-bit games to life.
Introducing The Systemax
Complete Gamer System
Lightning
Gamer
The Systemax
Illusion meets Reality. The SLI inspired Systemax
Lightning breaks the barriers of reality powered
by the new AMD Athlon™64 FX-62 Socket AM2
processor with HyperTransport™ featuring Dual
Core Technology! Welcome to the world of
Cinematic Computing; combining intense
graphics, virtual worlds, high-resolution video
and sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide
a computing experience that looks and feels like
an extension of reality.
Systemax Warhawk Systemax Hellcat Systemax Lightning
Athlon
Fully Customizable Built To Order SLI Ready Gamer Fully Customizable Built To Order SLI Ready Gamer Fully Customizable Built To Order SLI Ready Gamer
• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3500+ • AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4800+ • AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-62 Socket AM2 Dual-Core
• Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional • BFG GeForce 7900GT OC 256MB Video Card Processor with HyperTransport™
• BFG GeForce 7900GT OC 256MB Video Card • 1GB PC3200 Memory • Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional
• 1GB PC3200 Memory • BFG 250GB SATA Hard Drive • (2) BFG GeForce 7900GTX 512MB SLI Video
• 250GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • 1GB PC6400 Memory
• 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • CDRW/DVD Combo Drive • (2) 74GB SATA 10,000RPM Raptors RAID 0
• CDRW/DVD Combo Drive • Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Sound Card • 250GB SATA Hard Drive
• Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio • Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner
• Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter • Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard • CDRW/DVD Combo
• Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard • Razer Copperhead Gaming Mouse • 9 in 1 Media Reader
• Razer Copperhead Gaming Mouse • Integrated Gigabit Network Adapter
• Saitek Eclipse Gaming Keyboard
• Razer Copperhead Mouse
$1299.99 $1999.99
$3499.99
Item # BTO 038532 Item # BTO 038530
TigerDirect.com 888-237-6699 Copyright 2005, Systemax, Inc. All
ServiceCode
Available At rights reserved. All trademarks are
MCSM 0906 property of their respective owners.
Systemax recommends
Microsoft®Windows® XP Professional
The AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core
processor has demonstrated increased
performance over single-core processors
Ascent
and the closest competitive processors.
Athlon
Systemax Ascent Series
Systemax Ascent HA3200 Systemax Ascent BA3500 Systemax Ascent HA3200U
• AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3200+ • AMD Athlon™ 64 • AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3200+
• Microsoft®Windows®XP Processor 3500+ • Microsoft®Windows®XP
Home • Microsoft®Windows®XP Home
• 512MB PC3200 Memory Professional • 512MB PC3200 Memory
• 160GB SATA Hard Drive • 1GB PC3200 Memory • 160GB SATA Hard Drive
• 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner • 160GB SATA Hard Drive • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner
• Systemax Keyboard & Mouse • 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner •19” LCD Included
• Systemax Keyboard & Mouse • Systemax Keyboard & Mouse
$499.99 $599.99 $699.99
Item # SYXS-DC-989338 Item # SYXS-DB-989339 Item # SYXS-DC-989340
Athlon Athlon Athlon
Neotach
AssembledandSupportedintheUSAEverySystemaxPCandNotebookisAssembled,Serviced
andSupportedbyourownteam—righthereinAmerica.Youcanexpectthebestvalue—andthebestser-
vice.Plus,anyofournotebooksanddesktopsarefullycustomizable.Systemax’simpressivenewNeotach
3300laptopoffersasleek,masterfuldesign,lotsofpowerandspeed,plusanabundanceofgreatfeatures.
Systemax Neotach 3300
Ready To Ship Pre-Configured Notebook
• AMD Turion™ 64 ML-30
• Microsoft®Windows®XP Home
• 256MB PC2700 Memory
• 40GB Hard Drive
• DVD/CD Combo Drive
• ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Video
• 15.4” WXGA
$849.99
Item # BTO 038515
Need Help? No problem!...Call for 24-Hour Live Expert Advice from Digital Specialists!

(cid:2)
CONTENTS
57 Cast Your Votes for Our
Readers’ Choice Awards
And Enter to Win $1,000
SEPTEMBER 2006 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 9 ISSUE 318
DESKTOPS
22 Polywell Poly 590SLI2-FX62
24 Alienware Aurora ALX
24 Sony VAIO RC310G
26 Enpower Media Center
Xpress Special Edition
26 Gateway Profile 6SB
26 Systemax Wildcat
NOTEBOOKS
28 Dell XPS M2010
28 Asus W5F
29 Lenovo V100 29
29 Averatec AV2260-EK1
COMPONENTS
32 AMD Athlon 64 FX-62
71
32 Lexar JumpDrive Mercury
BUDGET-PC FACE-OFF
32 Microsoft Wireless Laser
60 The Affordable 5 Mouse 5000
Back in June,we showed you how
DISPLAYS
to build a $499 desktop that deliv- 34 HP LP2465 32
ers maximum bang for your buck. 34 Sony MFM-HT205
Now it’s time to see if the major PC 34 ViewSonic VG2021m
makers can compete with our PRINTERS
36 HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn
homegrown budget box.Find out
36 Epson Stylus CX7800
how much value and power these
HOME NETWORKING
five under-$500 models deliver.
40 Buffalo TeraStation Home
SHOPPERGOES SHOPPING Server NAS
71 Rating the Retailers 40 Spam Cube
Buying tech from a major chain 40 Top Global 3G Phoebus
MB6000 Wi-Fi Router
store can be a hit-or-miss proposi- 60
tion if you need sales help.Our edi- MOBILE PRODUCTS 40
23 Motorola Q
tors went undercover at different
42 Samsung SGH-D807
branches of five brick-and mortar 42 Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth
retailers to judge the stores’ PC Headset
selection and their sales reps’ 42 T-Mobile Sidekick 3
technical knowledge. DIGITAL CAMERAS
44 Olympus Stylus 710
PREVIEW: WINDOWS VISTA
44 Panasonic DMC-TZ1
80 Vista Unveiled
44 Sony Cyber-shot
Microsoft’s next-generation DSC-H5
Windows operating system is still a DIGITAL AUDIO
few months away from launch,but 48 Cowon iAudio 6
will it be worth the wait—and 48 LG Portable Stereo
should you upgrade? Our editor in Speakers MSP-100
48 Toshiba Gigabeat
chief takes Vista for a spin and 80 44
S Series
reports back on her findings.
DIGITAL LIVING
49 Panasonic DMR-ES25S
49 Samsung HP-S4253
49 Sharp LC-37D40U
Page 95
Page 71 SOFTWARE
Page 113 50 Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0
50 Dekart Private Disk 2.07
52 Network Magic
Page 80 52 OrgPlus 6 Professional
Page 57
52 Readiris Pro 11
Page 60 53 CCleaner 1.3
53 Documents To Go Premium Edition 8
Page 92
53 Extra Drive Creator 6.6 Professional
Page 120 23Motorola’s slick Q TOP 25
smartphone is superthin,
Page 22 stuffed with high-end 56 The best mainstream desktops,
features,and finally thin-and-light laptops,dSLR 49
available.Find out if it cameras,PC input devices,and
was worth the wait. music-download services.
computershopper.com September 2006 7